Stiff Throttle cable

[WadmalawJoe]

I just purchased a 2004 Sea Pro 206 cc with a Yamaha 150 4 stroke. The throttle up cable is stiff and sticky. The first inch or so of movement is fine, but to go from 1/4 throttle to wide open takes some muscle. I have sprayed a lubricant on the ends which of course did very little. I am thinking of disconnecting the cable from the motor end, attaching a rubber hose which will be attached to a funnel. In which I will pour a little bit of oil into and let it sit upright for a few hours allowing the oil to seep down in, while I occasionally work the throttle. Sound like a plan? Has anyone else done this or have had luck with something similar?

Thanks!

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Stiff Throttle cable

If you're certain it's the throttle cable, replace the cable. My concern is it's frozen enough to be unsafe, particularly if it strands you on the water - not to mention the family/friends you put at risk. I replaced one before on a Mercury throttle box and outboard, and it was relatively easy.

 

[WadmalawJoe]

Re: Stiff Throttle cable

I might, new cable is about $50. I will give my oil drip technique a try first just to see. If it leaves me in doubt, I'll change it out!

 

[KC4YIN]

Re: Stiff Throttle cable

First I would disconnect it from the motor and work the cable to see if it was in the cable or in the motor itself.

 

[david_r]

Re: Stiff Throttle cable

i would replace it if i thought it was going out........ i have had my shift cable break as i was trailering the boat, so when i hit reverse to slow me down i sped up and went forward. everything turned out ok but it could have been bad.

you could also switch your cables.... put the stiff one on the shift side.

i would rather lose my ability to shift than my ability to throttle up.... you can always take off the hood and push it into gear or rig up a wire so you can reach back and pull it into forward.. reverse is a little trickier to rig up unless you plan for it to happen.

 

[WadmalawJoe]

Re: Stiff Throttle cable

Thanks for the input!
I disconnected the cable at the motor end, I was going to disconnect both ends but, the screws in the throttle/shifting lever are really stuck. I sprayed a lubricant inside the shifting lever box as best as I could. Then at the motor end I tried my idea of attaching a rubber and a small funnel. I poured probably 3 ozs of oil down it, a little at a time and kept working the lever. The first thing I noticed once I unhooked the cable from the motor and let it flop wherever it choose is that the lever became extremely easy to operate. So I checked the throttle linkage in the motor and everything was smooth there. So I realized the main problem was that the cable had too much of a twist in it and that was causing it to bind. I lubed it up well anyway and reattached it with less of a twist and it is a whole lot better.
Thanks again for the input!

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Stiff Throttle cable

Glad you tested and found the culprit. Safe boating.